The Elections Commission does not have the authority to decide on the legitimacy of parliamentarians, says former Elections Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek.

Fuwad said this while speaking to RaajjeTV, at a rally calling for the independence of the parliament and judiciary. The rally was held in front of the Maldivian embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

He said this in regard to the Elections Commission’s decision to dismiss 12 parliamentarians, on the grounds of a Supreme Court decision on floor-crossing.

Fuwad expressed concern that such acts, which are carried out blatantly out of legal ambit as he described, obstruct the rights of people.

“Blindly dismissing 12 lawmakers obstruct the rights of their constituents, of over 60,000 Maldivians” he said.

While said parliamentarians have been reinstated by the Supreme Court, they have yet to participate in a parliament sitting.